News April 2008

The series of quaterfinals “UNICS — Ural-Great” finished by the victory of team from Perm and caused a sensation of play-off. The matches of semifinals among BC Khimki and “Ural-Great” will staged on 7-8th of May in Khimki and then 11 and 12th (if it will be necessary) in Perm. If four games will not determine the finalist, the decisive match will stage in Khimki on 15th of May.

Today is the 22th birthday of one of the most titled Russian player –The European champion, the winner of Russian Championship and Russian Cup — guard Anton PONKRASHOV. We congratulate Anton and wish him happiness, health and new big wins.

After the ending of last match of regular season the opponent of BC Khimki was determined. Our team will play with Lokomotiv Rostov in quarterfinals. First match BC Khimki will play on 22nd of April. Then the second match on 25th of April will play in Rostov and if two gamed will not determine the semifinalist, the third match will stage in Khimki on 27th of April.
The winner of pair “BC Khimki-Lokomotiv Rostov” will play in semifinal against the winner of pair “UNICS — Ural-Great”.

The head coach of Russian National team David Blatt named the enlarged roster before the Olympic Games in China. BC Khimki will be represented by 5 players: Anton Ponkrashov, Nikita Shabalkin, Nikita Morgunov, Vitaly Fridzon and Kelly McCarty. The first training session will start on 3rd of July at the Novogorsk camp.

The second match during the Turkish tour BC Khimki played against one of the most titled club – “Alpella” Istanbul (a successor of the “Ulker”). Our team won — 100-63. Top scorers: Morgunov (16), Veremeenko (14), Ponkrashov (14), McCarty (12).

Between matches in Russian Championship there is a pause. Bc Khimki decided to go to Turkey for playing friendly matches. On Wednesday, 9th of April, our team played agaist one of the leader of Turkish championship – “Efes Pilsen” and lost — 70-74 (16-22, 24-8, 14-22, 16-22). The top scorer became Daniel Ewing (16).